Like the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the former Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, was, last Friday, given a presidential welcome by residents of Koforidua during his one-day Eastern Regional tour.
The entire entourage of the man known in our political space as Alan Cash was surrounded by traders, party supporters, and onlookers who were heard shouting the mantra ‘the next president of Ghana’.
The market women who were loudly heard singing gospel songs and calling the name of the man who is seeking to become the next flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 elections, laid their cloths on the streets for their idol to walk on.
The readiness and alertness of the security detail of the NPP presidential aspirant was tested after going through a tough time to control the charged market women and other supporters of the elephant party.
The visit to the market was part of the presidential-hopeful’s tour of the Eastern Region where he was received with joy by party supporters as well.
Earlier, the former Trade and Industries Minister paid an official visit to the Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Kwaku Boateng III, to introduce himself to him and also inform him about his decision to contest the NPP flagbearership.
In a closed-door meeting, Mr. Alan Kyerematen discussed matters of interest with Nana Kwaku Boateng III and his some sub-chiefs. They also discussed his ambition to become flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party.
Mr. Alan Kyerematen later held a meeting with some executives of the party in the region to seek their support, going into the party’s internal flagbearership election.
Reiterating his national development plan for the country dubbed “Ghana Transformational Plan (GTP),” Mr. Alan Kyerematen outlined a seven-point plan, which seeks to provide a strong macroeconomic environment, a new agricultural revolution (NAR) for the country, industrial transformation, digital mainstreaming, energy security and diversification, de-carbonisation and climate resilience.
According to him, optimizing Value to Farmers by the establishment of Farmer-owned Large Scale Commercial Farms and Processing Facilities will bring the full benefits of the agriculture value chain to farmers.
According to him, he will introduce technology and innovation into agriculture, through Research & Development (R&D) in Agronomy, Mechanisation, Irrigation, and Plantation Management.
He believes this will build on the foundation laid by the Planting for Food and Jobs and Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programmes, adding that “Our farmers cannot be competitive without technology and innovation.”
The former Trade Minister hinted about the establishment of Licensed Food Distribution and Marketing companies by the Private Sector throughout the country at the district level.
He added that these companies would constitute a vital link between farmers and market queens in the urban and peri-urban areas, which would be complemented by the introduction of a digitalised food distribution and marketing online platform that would connect producers to buyers and consumers.
He further told the supporters that he was the right man to lead the party in the next general elections, stressing that if the NPP intended to make history as the only party to have ruled beyond eight years, he was the best person to achieve that.
Agriculture is very true the sure way for Ghana, but the point is, in the 8 years already served, how well have you and your Party improved upon Agric and as a Former Trade and Industry Minister, how many physical industries were you able to create to Support Agricultural productions?
The truth is that, there have been more fictional theories than physical realities of what has been done.